Note: This is supposed to be a children’s book with pictures so imagine
Speedy the Penguin
When a Penguin is in love he offers a lady penguin pebbles for her nest.
Page one
There once was a penguin named Speedy, who lived in the kingdom of Haras at a time when penguin kings, queens, princes and princesses ruled the land. It just so happened that Speedy sold the most beautiful and precious pebbles in all the land.
Page two
One morning the penguin nobleman, Max came to Speedy to get precious pebbles to impress the finest lady penguin, Trisha, who he loved with all his heart. She was one of the pickiest lady penguins in all the land. Many gentlemen penguins had tried to woo lady Trisha. They had tried gold, pebbles, land and even a giant ice sculpture. None of these things had worked to the disappointment of all the gentlemen penguins.
Page three
Speedy looked and looked through his store and all his collection of many pebbles. There were blue ones, red ones, green ones, black ones, pink ones, purple ones, and orange ones. Speedy said, “None of these are good enough for Trisha. I must go find finer stones for these are wonderful and beautiful but will not woo Trisha. I must go on a journey to find the most beautiful pebbles in all the lands in order to woo Trisha.” Speedy knew this would be dangerous but he prided himself in getting the best pebbles.
Page four
This was a dangerous journey and would require facing a dragon and passing ogres who loved to eat penguins. Speedy knew he must do this to find the finest pebbles. He started his journey and had to cross the enchanted bridge of Oilema, which marked the entrance into the unprotected land where evil trolls and Sophia the dragon, the most dangerous in the entire kingdom, roamed the land.
Page five
He crossed the bridge of Oilema where he met a troll who would not let him pass. Speedy asked, “Why won’t you let me pass?” The troll said, “I will not let you pass because I am a troll and we do not let penguins pass.” Speedy said, “Why won’t trolls let penguins pass?” The troll responded, “Because that is what my father and grandfather did.” Speedy asked, “Why must you do what your father and grandfather did…don’t you want to make your own path in life?” The troll said, “I never thought of it that way, I always wanted to be a blacksmith.” The troll let Speedy pass.
Page six-Page seven
Speedy continued on his journey to the dragon’s cave. Before he got to the dragon’s cave he saw an ogre. Speedy was very frightened because ogres ate penguins. Speedy knew he must get past the ogre if he was to survive. Speedy tried to run past the gigantic ogre. Speedy tried as he might was unable to run fast enough to get past the ogre. The ogre stopped Speedy from passing. The ogre said, “You look tasty. I think I shall eat you.” Speedy responded in a shaky voice, “Please don’t eat me. I am not tasty. I know you could eat something else.” The Ogre said, “Ogres love penguins. They taste yummy!” Speedy, “How do you know that? Have you ever eaten any penguins before?” The ogre said, “No! But all the other ogres say penguins are yummy.” Speedy said, “Well maybe I have some food with me that you would like better.” Speedy reached into his knapsack to find something. Speedy pulled out a head of lettuce and said, “Try this you might like this better and if you don’t like it then you can eat me.” The ogre said, “Haaa, I will eat both if I want too. For I am bigger than you.” Speedy handed the head of the lettuce to the ogre. The ogre chomped into the lettuce and said, “Yum, Yum, Yum, This is the best I have ever tasted. I will let you pass for I would never have tasted this without your help. Pass!” Speedy shouted, “Good Day,” and quickly continued on his journey.
Page eight-Page nine
Speedy made his way to the dragon’s cave where sparkling pebbles were said to be. Speedy pondered how to get the precious pebbles when Speedy heard the loudest sneeze he had ever heard. Sophia the dragon appeared at the entrance and Speedy trembled at this sight. Sophia said in a stuffy voice, “What do you want, for a crispy fried penguin sounds good right now?” Speedy replied in a shaky voice, “So you have a cold, I have something that will make you feel better.” Sophia replied, “I think a crispy fried penguin would make me feel better.” Speedy said with more courage this time, “This will make your cold go right away, it’s tea.” Speedy pulled out 7 tea bags and a large bowl for making soup. Speedy filled the soup bowl with water and put the tea bags in the soup bowl. Speedy asked, “Sophia, would you please heat this?” Sophia blew a light flame on the soup pot and the water started to boil immediately. Speedy said, “Drink this and you will feel better.” Sophia drank the tea in one sip and said, “This is good and I do feel better. Is there anything I can do to pay you back for this soothing tea?” Speedy replied, “Yes, I need some beautiful pebbles.” Sophia handed Speedy a tiny bag filled with pebbles. Speedy said, “Thank you” and scurried off.
Page ten
Speedy made it back to his shop in Haras, where Max was waiting for the precious pebbles. Speedy dumped the beautiful sparkling pebbles on the wooden table in his workshop. They sparkled in the light from the window. These were the most beautiful pebbles anybody had seen in all the land. Max the penguin was sure they would impress Trisha with these pebbles.
Page eleven
Max took his sparkling pebbles to Trisha the penguin to impress her to marry him. As Max was about to present his beautiful pebbles to Trisha a humble peasant penguin came to Trisha and presented a humbly made necklace from common everyday pebbles that can be found in the village. Trisha picks up the necklace and looks at it in the sunlight. She kisses this penguin in acceptance because she had always loved this penguin for they were former playmates when the servant would watch her and bring their children along. This is the penguin she had dreamed up and why she had always been so picky.
Page twelve
Max walked away in disappointment with his shiny beautiful pebbles. Max looked at his beautiful pebbles and said, “These pebbles are the most beautiful pebbles in the land but they are not as beautiful as true love.” Max walked down the path and hoped he would be happy like the peasant penguin one day.
The End
Amelio's Palace of Stories 